Milli makes his film debut with Robby Krieger of The Doors

Iconic rock vocalist Miljenko Matijevic, best known as the frontman of renowned band SteelHeart, makes a powerful big-screen debut in Mick Davis’ new heartwarming dramedy, Trust in Love. The film, which has already garnered 30 awards at festivals worldwide, debuted in select theaters in early August before its VOD debut on August 13th. Matijevic has contributed several songs to the film.

“I think everybody will really enjoy it. I’ve written a lot of songs for the movie that are in there. The theme song is ‘Trust and Love,’” he shares with us. “When I was playing my music to the director, he just [says], ‘Well, I like that one. Well, that one’s great. Oh, I like this one too. Oh, we should use this one.’ And then I played ‘Trust and Love,’ he’s like, ‘Oh, fuck me. We got to have this.’ And then he’s like, ‘Hey man, why don’t we just change the title of the movie to Trust and Love?’ So it used to be called Split, which is, you know, break up and and it’s like so it’s had a lot more to it and that’s how it came together and I’m excited, that’s for sure.”

Directed by the acclaimed Mick Davis, known for Modigliani and Walden, the film also stars a remarkable ensemble cast, including Matijevic, Natasha Wilson (Once Upon a Time, Commander in Chief, Huff), Sydney Bullock (Stranger Things, Dynasty, Goosebumps), Robby Krieger (The Doors), Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight, The Expendables, Entourage), and Jimi Petulla (The Fall of America and the Western World, Reversal, All the Kings Men).

Diving deep into the heart of resilience and love, Trust In Love—based on a true story—promises to move and inspire viewers. Mickey Ferrara (Jimi Petulla) teeters at life’s crossroads: his record-producing career for a once huge band, fronted by Emerson (played by Matijevic), is going down the tubes. His estranged wife wants a divorce, and his son is struggling with his sexuality. Although plunged into adversity, Mickey is above all else a warrior, poised to make a valiant stand, get in the trenches, and “trust in love” to try to keep his family together and maybe—just maybe—make one more good record.

Matijevic says his friendship with Trust in Love star Jimi Petulla led him to become involved with the project.

“Jimi knows very well for what I do,” Matijevic recalls. “He [says], ‘Hey, you know, let’s just sit down and listen to some music, you know, with the director.
When I played the songs that I thought would fit the movie, every one of them just kind of worked for that, you know, and again, when I played ‘Trust and Love,’ it was a done deal. So, it was easy. It was effortless which is fantastic, so happy and proud to be a part of it.”

The Door’s Robby Krieger also makes an appearance in the Trust and Love.

“I have a studio, but my studio is a lot smaller,” Matijevic states. “So I called Rob. I said, ‘Robby, we’re making this movie, how about you let me use your studios to to film in it?’ So he agreed. I think we did like about four or five days at the studio. And while we’re in there, I said [to the director], ‘Why don’t we get Robby into the movie?’ And so I said, ‘Rob, why don’t you jump in on a little spot?’ and we did, we got him in. Mick wrote apart for him, and we got him in the movie.”

The film was named after SteelHeart’s epic track which has been translated into ten languages during COVID and has become a symbol of peace globally.

“I just felt I had to do something for the world. I think they could have used a little love,” Matijevic says of the idea. “Just hearing so much negativity out there during, COVID, it’s so difficult. Also my connection, my deep connection with Korea, with my music, I felt like I needed to write a song for the world. I wanted the fans to be a part of it… So I put on the website for all my fans to say, ‘Hey, here’s the chorus. I would love for you to sing it in — on the phone, in your studio, on your laptop. I don’t care how you sing it, just send me your version of you singing the chorus,’ and I got about 350 people who sent in their vocals. And I put all of them. All of them. They’re all in there — in the chorus… I wanted the energy. I wanted their love. I wanted to feel their power.”

In addition to his new film credits, Matijevic is also poised to make waves yet again in the music industry with new material slated for release in late 2024. Collaborating with Niclas Engelin of In Flames, the new material is a break from his past fare. It is a darker, heavier rock sound that promises to be a sonic treat for rock fans worldwide.

“I got some songs to release. I’m also doing another project another side project as well with another famous guitar player, so I’m excited about that as well,” he teases, calling the new music, “hard rock” and “really heavy deep metal.”